A [Realistic] Day in my Diet and Exercise Routine [Covid Edition]

Since I've been eating clean again, training (at home, sadly, I'll be delighted when the gyms reopen) and getting back on a decent routine, I thought it might be fun to share an average day with you.

Before we get into it, I just want to note that my mentality is to favour a morning workout over an evening workout, but if that works for you, go for it. We are all doing our best, and that's what matters. While I'm here, I want to say that just becuase this is how I'm chosing to spend my time during this awful moment in history, I am not trying to shame anyone for coping in whatever way they see fit. This is my outlet and my distraction. 

Every day starts the night before, when I lay out a bottle of water, my workout clothes for the day (if it's a workout day, that is) and put my tech on charge. That means my phone, my watch and my headphones! If they're ready to roll, then I will be much more likely to just get up and at it. 

I've had an alarm set for every day since lockdown began, for 8am. Now, I don't always get up when that alarm chimes, but I try to. 

Once I'm up, I put on that workout gear I've laid out, lace my trusty Asics, put my hair up tightly, and get to it. I try to get an hour of Chloe Ting workouts in, and the days rotate based on the challenge day. Once that is done, a big glass of water and then I try to get out for a run or a cycle. If I go out cycling it's usually because I have errands to run in the village, and usually that entails groceries of some kind. I switch up the running routes I take once I get to the top of my road, and from there I just run. As for what I'm listening to on my runs, I've a running playlist that I am always adding and removing songs from on Spotify, or a good true crime podcast, like True Crime All The Time. 

Because I'm doing intermittent fasting, when I get home, I just have a pint of water, and get ready for my day as normal. I use Fushi Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash that I get in my local zero-waste shop. As soon as I'm dressed, I make a coffee with almond milk and get to preparing my breakfast. For me, with I.F, breakfast is at 12pm. If I'm ahead of myself time-wise, I'll eat at 11am, it's not a big deal really. 

Breakfast:

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100g Glenisk Natural Strained Protein Yogurt, 6 sliced strawberries, a sliced banana and a tablespoon of honey. Coffee with almond milk. 

Lunch: 

Egg-white omelette filled with 2 slices of turkey breast, two tablespoons of mature cheddar cheese with steamed vegetables and a coffee. I try to get a bottle of water into me also. 

Dinner: 

Chicken breast (usually rubbed with some kind of spice, like garam masala and garlic) a half a stuffed pepper from Supervalu (the stuffing is pictured, but the pepper disintegrated), and some veg. 

This is usually a one tray dish. I like things to be easy to clean up and as efficient as possible. Sometimes, I make a second chicken breast and use it in place of turkey in the next days omelette, and other days I will have fillet steak instead of chicken. 

Snacks:

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love snacks. I still snack, just a bit better than I used to. Usually in the evening, just before 8pm (which is when I start fasting again, I'm doing the 16:8 routine) I will have a bowl of cereal, either All Bran for a kick of fibre, or Special K for something a touch sweeter. I use unsweetened Alpro Almond Milk either way. Honestly, it's actually not as boring as it sounds, and it leaves me feeling full for the evening, which means I'm less likely to dip into a bag of Haribo until it's cheat day time! 

I try to get a walk in during the evenings, just a slow, leisurely walk with my friend or my niece and her dog, sometimes I'll just go alone and get some breathing space if it's been a day, but I think, like most of us, the new normal is Skype, Zoom, Google Meet and so forth. So I do try to get a video call in with various pals, ideally every other evening. Either way I try to drink another bottle of water and put myself to bed around 11pm. 

That's my average day of diet and fitness, pandemic edition. 

I hope it's been even vaguely interesting, and if you want to share your thoughts, tips or what you've been doing to keep sane during covid, please comment and let me know! <3 

If you want to follow my progress thus far and in the future, follow my instagram, @red_lips_red_hair 

xoxo

Amy

Things That Have Been Getting Me Through Lockdown

Lockdown sucks, can we all just agree on that, first? I haven't seen my friends, I barely see my family (beyond those I live with) and I am bored senseless from not being in work. Basically, I am ready for lockdown to be over. However, there are things that have been keeping me sane and in a routine that I am grateful as hell to have, which I will be sharing with you all today. 

So, I give you, in no particular order: Things that are getting me through lockdown. 

Animal Crossing New Horizons / The Nintendo Switch:

I bought myself a Nintendo Switch at the start of quarantine, and I've been playing it pretty much non-stop. Animal Crossing has become my obsession, and I've been working very hard on my island, Wench Cove. I have also been playing some other games, Assassins Creed 3, Crash Bandicoot N'Sane Trilogy and a few others, but ACNH has been my ultimate escape from the terrible reality.

Fitness Routine:

I have been doing the Chloe Ting Shredding Programme, alongside my usual running, and cycling. I've been eating as clean as possible, tracking my food, my water, and at the time of writing this post, I'm doing intermittent fasting too. The IF wont be a permanent thing, but I'm finding that teamed with the shred challenge, I'm getting closer to my goals with that bit more oomph! 

The workouts are tough, but I'm enjoying them, seeing real progress and feeling amazing! I have not, and will not be weighing myself, as losing or gaining doesn't matter to me, simply I want to feel stronger, healthier and look a little better too. So far, it's going well! 

Dynasty:

Guys, please let me have this one, okay. I know it's trash, but it's so fun to watch! I am blazing through it on Netflix and only just found out recently there's a whole new season. I love watching this in the evenings, and I'm trying to only watch a couple of episodes per evening so I can really enjoy it, but it's difficult, because it's so addicting. 

The Ordinary Skincare: 

As well as getting back into a solid health and fitness routine, I've been getting back into my skincare. I'm using The Ordinary to get my skin back on an even keel. I've been using The No Brainer Set, the Glycolic Toner, AHA/BHA Peeling Solution and a few other products. The purging breakouts have started to subside, and my skin has never looked or felt better. Call me converted! 

I'll leave it there for now. 

What have you been doing to keep sane during quarantine? 

xx

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